International Engagement

Marine mammals around the world face similar threats and conservation challenges. Therefore, the Commission tracks, supports, and participates in many international marine mammal conservation efforts. Here are some examples of our recent international engagement:

Ropeless Gear Meeting in California

There have been increased reports of large whale entanglements in Dungeness crab fishing gear on the West Coast. The use of ropeless gear  is being explored in a number of trap/pot fisheries around North America as a possible technology to reduce the number of entangling vertical lines in the ocean. This summer, the Commission and Oceana co-organized a meeting at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, to discuss fishermen’s perspectives on ropeless fishing gear and to hear from gear developers. A main goal of the meeting was to discuss plans for further testing in the Dungeness crab fishery. Because the danger of vertical lines afflicts large whales on both coasts and, more recently in the Bering Sea, the Commission is working to ensure communication between all parties focusing on ropeless gear. Therefore, scientists from the East Coast were encouraged to call in to the California meeting. The meeting summary is available on our website and for more information about what California is doing to address entanglements, go California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group page.

True-ly Amazing! First Study Uncovering the Lives of True's Beaked Whales

A beaked whale surfaces not far from the Gordon Gunter (NOAA Permit #21371).

Credit: Salvatore Cerchio

Commission staff joined experts from nine collaborating organizations on a research cruise focused on True’s beaked whales in the western North Atlantic. The True’s beaked whale, which is up to 5 meters in length, was first described by Smithsonian scientist Frederick W. True in 1913 based on a specimen that stranded in Beaufort, NC; that skeleton is in the institution’s research collection. Over the century since, this species has only known from a few handfuls of strandings and even fewer opportunistic sightings. It had never been studied alive... until now, when dozens were sighted during the expedition. The cruise collected both sightings and acoustic data on True’s beaked whales, along with photographs, biopsies and water samples for environmental DNA (eDNA). A digital acoustic recording tag affixed to an animal by suction cup was deployed for over 12 hours, providing a glimpse into the species’ dive behavior. The success of this cruise in elucidating details of the lives and identifying characteristics of these difficult to identify and little-known beaked whales gives us insight into their distribution, social structure, behavior, and resource requirements, which can better inform management and conservation decisions. The deep-water areas off Georges Bank and near the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument appear to be important habitat for True’s beaked whales, as well as other little known species such as Cuvier’s and Sowerby’s beaked whales, dwarf and pygmy sperm whales, and numerous better known dolphin and large whale species. This project was led by Chief Scientist, Danielle Cholewiak, of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/NOAA) as a part of the annual survey efforts of Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) , a collaborative long-term research and monitoring program involving the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the U.S. Navy, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population (J, K, and L pods), found seasonally in the Salish Sea and listed as endangered under the ESA, is declining at an alarming rate. Following the recent deaths of the subadult female J50 and of J35’s newborn calf, only 74 individuals remain, bringing the three pods to levels last seen in the 1970’s after reaching a peak of 96-98 whales in the 1990s. Three factors of 1) insufficient availability of Chinook salmon prey, 2) vessel disturbance, and 3) contaminants, have contributed to diminished condition and health and the recent reproductive failure in the population. Actions to protect and conserve the killer whales are being discussed at many levels of government with a wide variety of stakeholders, as all involved recognize the urgency of the situation at hand.

In follow up on this issue after our 2018 Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA, the Commission will continue to work with Congressional offices and agency staff to support management efforts. Keep an eye out for management actions to be recommended by the Washington State SRKW Task Force on November 1, 2018. 

Photo taken by UAV from above 90 feet under NMFS research permit and FAA flight authorization(Credit: NOAA Fisheries and Vancouver Aquarium).

Welcoming a new member to the MMC staff!

We are excited to announce the hiring of Merra Howe as the Commission’s new Policy Analyst. In this role, she will be responsible for reviewing comments on permit applications and biological opinions, as well as helping to assess and develop policy advice for the International and Policy Program at the Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, Merra worked at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on congressional and legislative affairs after spending a year there as a 2017 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow. She received an M.S. in marine biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she studied the distribution of odontocetes around the Maui Nui islands of Hawaii through citizen science observations and passive acoustic monitoring. Her experience with passive acoustic monitoring stemmed from her prior work with Cook Inlet belugas as a technician for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and a research associate at the Oceanwide Science Institute. Please join us in welcoming Merra!

Fun Fact: Her favorite marine mammal is the beluga whale and her first job required her to live on a seven-acre rock without running water or electricity off the Maine coast monitoring puffins and other seabirds.

Marine Mammal Commission scientific advisors, staff, and science in the news

Commission-affiliated scientists have been featured in a variety of media publications, while sharing their expertise on a variety of topics.Below are a few recent media highlights that reflect some of the ongoing scientific accomplishments of these world-renowned marine mammal scientists.

Cancer at Sea – California Sea Lions

Grieving Whales

Elusive True’s Beaked Whale Expedition

Dolphins Lost to Red Tide

Whales Shake Fish from Lines like Apples from a Tree

For a reminder of our Commissioners, Committee of Scientific Advisors, and Staff, visit our website.

Photo of a California Sea Lion by Josh Valcarcel

True's beaked whales on the surface. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries/Robert Pitman (Permit #21371)